Adjustable retractor



July 5, 1949. B. NEWMAN ADJUSTABLE RETRACTOR Filed Jan. 2e, 194e' mmh Patented July 5, Y1949 UNITED stares garant orties ADJUSTABLE RETRACTOR Louis E. Newman, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 25, 1946, Serial No. 643,528

(Cl. 12S-20) ll Claims. 1

This invention relates to a surgical retractor for holding portions of a patients body out of the surgeons way during an operation.

' AIt is well understood that surgical operations are'very delicate processes and time often is an essential factor. As soon as the surgeon makes the incision, retractors are inserted into the incision, and the overlying layers of flesh are pulled to eitherside and held out of the way so that the surgeon can nd the particular part needing his attention and perform the required operation as quickly as possible. After the surgeon gets access to the part to be operated on he sometimes finds that the tractor does not go deep enough or is not wide enough to provide suiiicient vspace in which he may work. With `I :n'dinary -retractors it is necessary to remove the retractor and replace it with one of a more suitable size. This means that after the new retractor iS positioned the surgeon has to reach into the opening again to nd the part on which he is to operate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a surgical retractor with simple and eiiicient means for varying either the depth or width of the holding blade while the retractor is in position. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specication, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top elevation illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modied embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the retractor blades;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

In the drawing reference numeral 2 indicates a shank which terminates at one end in a holding blade 3 and at the other end in a curved finger piece 4. .The shank is provided with a plurality of longitudinal flanges 5 which may be integral with the shank 2 or may be welded thereto. The holding blade 3 is provided with flanges 6. A second holding blade l, having a shank 8, is mounted adjacent the blade 3 and shank 2 and is retained in position by the anges 2 5 which lie over the shank 8 and the flanges 6 which overlap the edges of the blade l. The shank 8 is provided at one end with a finger piece 9 to facilitate movement of the shank `8 and blade 1.

The shank 8 is made of a flexible metal so that when it is slid to the right (looking at Figure 2) it may follow the curvature of the shank 2 and blade 3 where they are joined. Preferably the curved area of the shank 2 is provided with a pair of continuous flanges I@ to hold the shank B when it is slid to the right. Such sliding movement of the shank 8 causes the blade 'I to move downwardly.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the structure of the shank 2', blade 3 and finger piece 4' is substantially the same as that previously described. However, in this embodiment the shank 8 is mounted on the inner side of the shank 2. When the finger piece 9 is moved to the right the blade I moves downwardly to increase the eifective depth of the retractor. The blades 3' and 'I' are held together by means of a rivet lor stud II which passes through an aperture (not shown) in each blade. The aperture in the blade 'I' is circular,

to t the rivet, and is an elongated slot in the blade 3' to permit the blade l to slide relative to the blade 3.

The blade I is preferably provided with a pair of extensions I2 hinged thereto, as indicated at I3. When the hinged extensions I2 are lopened out they substantially double the eifective width of the holding blade. It is obvious that if desired one hinged extension may be opened and the other closed to provide an increased width of approximately half the width of the holding blade 'I'. The extensions l2 are hinged in such a manner that the pressure of the body parts against the retractor is eifective to hold them in open position.

In the modified embodiment, illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the blade 3" is made in flattened tubular form. In this embodiment the adjustable blade 1 ts inside the blade 3" and vslides downwardly through the opening I4.

I claim:

1. In a retractor, a holding blade, a shank secured to said blade substantially at right angles thereto and joining the blade along smooth curves, said shank having a plurality of longitudinally extending flanges, a second shank of iiexible metal slidably secured to said rst shank by said flanges and extending around the right angle bend leading to the blade, a holding blade carried by said second mentioned shank, and means for holding said blades in sliding relationship relative to each other.

2. In a surgical retractor, a pair of holding blades, one of said blades having a circular aper ture and said other blade having an elongated aperture, a rivet passing through said apertures and holding said blades in sliding relationship relative to each other, whereby the effective depth of said holding blades may be varied, one of said holding blades having a pair of hinged extensions whereby the effective width of said holding blade may be varied, a shank secured to each of said holding blades and extending at right angles there-to, longitudinal flanges on one of said shanks overlying the edges oi said other .tank to hold said Shanks in juxtaposition, and a nger piece on said second mentioned shank to facilitate sliding movement of said shank relative to said rst mentioned shank.

3. A surgical retractor comprising a retractor blade, a holding shank for the blade rigid therewith and extending at a substantial angle thereto and merging therewith along a smooth curve, a second retractor blade juxtaposed over the first blade and slidable along the surface thereof .i

to project Variable amounts beyond an edge thereof to increase the holding surface area of the retractor, said second blade having a holding shank extending along the holding shank of the rst blade and along the curved merging portion between the first shank and the rst blade, said second shank being slidable along the first shank in a direction towards and from the curved portion and being sufficiently resilient to permit lexing of the second shank as it slides along the curved portion to advance and withdraw the second blade, and means for holding the second shank to the curved portion of the first shank as the second shank is moved along the first shank.

4. A surgical retractor comprising a retractor blade, a holding shank for the blade rigid therewith and extending at a substantial angle thereto and merging therewith along a smooth curve, a second retractor blade juxtaposed over the rst blade and slidable along the surface thereof to project variable amounts beyond an edge thereof to increase the holding surface area of the retractor, said second blade having a holding shank extending along the holding shank of the rst blade and along the curved merging portion between the first Shank and the rst blade, sad second shank being slidable along the rst shank in a direction towards and from the curved portion and being suiiiciently resilient to permit flexing oi the second shank as it slides along the curved portion to advance and withdraw the second blade.

LOUIS B. NEWMAN.

REFERENCES CITED following referenlces are of record in the ille oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,157,202 Bates et al. Oct. 19, 1915 2,374,863 Guttrnann May 1, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES V. Mueller & Co. Hospital Supply Catalogue, copyright 1938, page 315, item G. S. 225. 

